LICHFIELD City suffered penalty heartache as they exited the Staffordshire Senior Cup at Stafford Rangers.
A dramatic tie saw Joe Haines give the visitors a first half lead before sub Dan Cockerline levelled things up just before the hour mark.
Jack Birch looked to have won the tie for Stafford in the final minute before an injury time penalty was converted by John Mills to send the tie to penalties where the home side eventually prevailed.
Lichfield carved out the first chance of note in the game with Luca Taylor’s cross finding Harvey Smith, but his effort struck the crossbar.
Smith had another opportunity after jinking past two defenders only for keeper Scott Moloney to turn the strike away.
The City man was proving a thorn in Stafford’s side and he won his side a penalty after 20 minutes which Haines drilled home hard and low.
Stafford came out for the second half in a more threatening mood with a shot going over Brendon Bunn’s bar.
Harry Eden fired just wide as City looked to double their advantage – but it would be the hosts who struck next when Bunn saved and then Mansell cleared a follow up off the line only for the third attempt from Cockerline to find the net.
Haines fired over as Lichfield tried to respond before Bunn saved well at the other end.
Stafford looked to have netted the winner in the 90th minute when a long ball into the box found Birch who volleyed a low shot into the net.
But the drama wasn’t over yet, with City awarded a spot kick in stoppage time after Hisham Chiha was pulled back in the box. Mills kept his nerve to send the game to penalties.
The hosts converted first, with Jamie Spiers sending Lichfield’s first effort over the bar. Bunn saved Stafford’s second, but Mansell was denied by Moloney.
Rangers made it 2-0 before Mills again kept his nerve to make it 2-1. But when the hosts added a third, the pressure was on Charlie Footes who could only send his spot kick wide.
